Vehicle door arrangement configured to prevent overlap

Abstract

An exemplary motor vehicle includes a first door on a first side of the motor vehicle including a first pad adjacent a rear edge of the first door, and a second door on the first side of the motor vehicle including a second pad adjacent a front edge of the second door. Further, the first pad and second pad are arranged such that, in a first condition, the first pad and second pad are spaced-apart from one another and, in a second condition, the first pad and second pad contact one another to prevent overlap of the first door and second door.

1 . A motor vehicle, comprising:
 a first door on a first side of the motor vehicle including a first pad adjacent a rear edge, wherein the first door is configured to open and close by rotation about a hinge arranged adjacent a front edge of the first door;   a second door on the first side of the motor vehicle including a second pad adjacent a front edge, wherein the second door is configured to open and close by rotation about a hinge arranged adjacent a rear edge of the second door;   wherein the first pad and the second pad are arranged such that, in a first condition, the first pad and the second pad are spaced-apart from one another and, in a second condition, the first pad and second pad contact one another to prevent overlap of the first door and second door,   wherein the first pad is vertically aligned relative to the second pad,   wherein the first pad is spaced-apart from a bottom edge of the first door by a dimension within a range of about 40%-60% of a height of the first door,   wherein the second pad is spaced-apart from a bottom edge of the second door by a dimension within a range of about 40%-60% of a height of the second door,   wherein the first pad and second pad are formed of a polymer material,   wherein the first pad includes a first substantially planar contact face lying in a common plane with a rear edge of the first door,   wherein the second pad includes a second substantially planar contact face lying in a common plane with a front edge of the second door,   wherein the first contact face and the second contact face are configured to directly contact one another in the second condition,   wherein the first pad includes a plurality of ribs directly contacting a body of the first door and extending to a backside of the first contact face, and   wherein the second pad includes a plurality of ribs directly contacting a body of the second door and extending to a backside of the second contact face.   
     
     
         2 . The motor vehicle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second doors are configured to close to cover first and second openings, respectively, in the first side of the motor vehicle, and wherein the first and second openings are separated by a B-pillar of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The motor vehicle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first pad is located above a latch of the first door, and   the second pad is located above a latch of the second door.   
     
     
         4 . The motor vehicle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first pad is connected to the body of the first door by a first fastener,   the second pad is connected to the body of the second door by a second fastener,   the first pad includes a recess spaced from the first contact face and configured to accommodate the first fastener, and   the second pad includes a recess spaced from the second contact face and configured to accommodate the first fastener.   
     
     
         5 . A method, comprising:
 preventing overlap of a first door and a second door of a motor vehicle by contacting a first pad mounted to the first door to a second pad mounted to the second door,   wherein the first pad includes a first substantially planar contact face lying in a common plane with a rear edge of the first door,   wherein the second pad includes a second substantially planar contact face lying in a common plane with a front edge of the second door,   wherein, during the preventing step, the first contact face and the second contact face directly contact one another,   wherein the first pad includes a plurality of ribs directly contacting a body of the first door and extending to a backside of the first contact face, and   wherein the second pad includes a plurality of ribs directly contacting a body of the second door and extending to a backside of the second contact face.   
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the first pad is mounted adjacent a rear edge of the first door and the second pad is mounted adjacent a front edge of the second door. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the first door is configured to open and close by rotation about a hinge adjacent a front edge of the first door, and the second door is configured to open and close by rotation about a hinge adjacent a rear edge of the second door. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the preventing step occurs in response to a force being exerted on a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the first pad is vertically aligned relative to the second pad. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first pad is spaced-apart from a bottom edge of the first door by a dimension within a range of about 40%-60% of a height of the first door, and   the second pad is spaced-apart from a bottom edge of the second door by a dimension within a range of about 40%-60% of a height of the second door.